Foldable storage container

ABSTRACT

A foldable storage container can be used as a suitcase or to hold and transport sports balls and has a rear panel, two side panels, a base, a front panel and a cover. The rear panel has a top, a bottom and two side edges. The side panels are respectively formed perpendicularly on the side edges of the rear panel and are foldable. The base is mounted pivotally on the rear panel. The front panel is mounted slidably between the side panels and has a top. The cover is mounted pivotally and detachably on the top of the rear panel and is selectively locked on the top of the front panel. Therefore, the foldable storage container can be folded to occupy a smaller space for convenient storage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a storage container, especially to afoldable storage container.

2. Description of the Prior Arts

A conventional storage container can be used as a suitcase to packthings into when traveling or moving or for carrying sports equipment,such as tennis balls. The conventional storage container has a fixedinner space to put things or sports balls into. Therefore, the storagecontainer has a total volume larger than the fixed inner space. When thestorage container is not in use, the storage container occupies a largespace and is inconveniently stored.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a foldablecontainer to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a foldablestorage container. The foldable storage container can be used as asuitcase or to hold and transport sports balls and has a rear panel, twoside panels, a base, a front panel and a cover. The rear panel has atop, a bottom and two side edges. The side panels are respectivelypivotally formed perpendicularly on the side edges of the rear panel.The base is mounted pivotally on the rear panel. The front panel ismounted slidably between the side panels and has a top. The cover ismounted pivotally and detachably on the top of the rear panel and isselectively locked on the top of the front panel. Therefore, thefoldable storage container can be folded to occupy a smaller space forconvenient storage.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a foldable storage container inaccordance with the present invention used as a luggage trolley;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the foldable storage container inFIG. 1 without a cover;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the foldable storage container inFIG. 2 without a front panel;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a lock recess and a guidingpin for the foldable storage container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged operational front view in partial section of alock assembly of the foldable storage container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the foldable storage container in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a side view in partial section of the foldable storagecontainer in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is an operational side view in partial section of the foldablestorage container in FIG. 2 showing a base pivoting;

FIG. 9 is an operational top view of the foldable storage container inFIG. 8 showing the base pivoted up;

FIG. 10 is an operational side view in partial section of the foldablestorage container in FIG. 9 showing a front panel sliding;

FIG. 11 is an operational top view of the foldable storage container inFIG. 10 when the side panels are being folded;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the foldable storage container in FIG.1 with multiple additional bags;

FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view of another embodiment of a foldablestorage container in accordance with the present invention used as atennis ball case;

FIG. 14 is a bottom perspective view of the foldable storage containerin FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a partial perspective view of another embodiment of afoldable storage container in accordance with the present invention withan additional lid; and

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the foldable storagecontainer in FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 12 and 13, a foldable storage containerin accordance with the present invention can be used as a suitcase or tocarry sports balls and may comprise a rear panel (10), two side panels(20, 20′), a base (30, 30′), a front panel (40), a cover (50, 50′), twohandles (60), a telescopic frame (70), two wheels (80) and at least oneadditional bag (90).

The rear panel (10) has a top, a bottom and two edges.

With further reference to FIGS. 5 and 11, the side panels (20, 20′) arerespectively formed perpendicularly on the sides of the rear panel (10)and are foldable. Each side panel (20, 20′) has a top, a bottom, aninner surface, a stationary leaf (21), a pivoting leaf (22), multipleguide channels (211) and may have multiple through holes (23′).

The stationary leaf (21) is formed perpendicularly on the correspondingside of the rear panel (10) and has a rear edge, a stationary edge andan inner surface. The rear edge of the stationary leaf (21) is formed onthe corresponding side of the rear panel (10).

The pivoting leaf (22) is mounted pivotally on the stationary edge ofthe stationary leaf (21) and has a pivoting edge, a front edge, a topand a lock hole (221). The pivoting edge of the pivoting leaf (22) ismounted pivotally on the stationary edge of the stationary leaf (21).The lock hole (221) is formed through the front edge of the pivotingleaf (22) near the top.

The guide channels (211) are respectively formed separately through eachside panel (20, 20′) near the top and the bottom. Each guide channel(211) has a front end, a rear end, an opening and a lip (212). The frontend of the guide channel (211) is near the front edge of the pivotingleaf (22). The rear end of the guide channel (211) is near the rear ofthe stationary leaf (21). The opening is formed through the innersurface of the side panel (20, 20′). The lip (212) is formed around theopening of the guide channel (211).

The through holes (23′) are formed separately through each side panel(20′).

With further reference to FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 14, the base (30, 30′) ismounted pivotally on the rear panel (10), has a pivoting edge, a frontedge, a bottom surface, multiple elongated rollers (31, 31′) and mayhave multiple transverse slots (32′). The pivoting edge of the base (30,30′) is mounted pivotally on the bottom of the rear panel (10). Theelongated rollers (31, 31′) are mounted rotatably on the bottom surfaceof the base (30, 30′) and are parallel to each other. The transverseslots (32′) are formed separately through the base (30′). Eachtransverse slot (32′) is formed between two corresponding elongatedrollers (31′) to hold sports balls.

With further reference to FIGS. 15 and 16, the base (30′) may have anadditional lid (300′) to cover the transverse slots (32′). The lid(300′) is mounted pivotally on and is held selectively on the rear panel(10) and has a keyhole (301′) and a key protrusion (302′). The keyhole(301′) is formed through the additional lid (300′). The key protrusion(302′) is formed on the rear panel (10) and selectively engages thekeyhole (301′).

With further reference to FIGS. 4 and 10, the front panel (40) ismounted slidably between the side panels (20) and has a top, a frontsurface, two side edges, multiple guiding pins (41), multiple lockrecesses (42) and multiple lock assemblies (43).

Each guiding pin (41) protrudes from the side edge of the front panel(40) and is slidably mounted in the corresponding guide channel (211) inthe corresponding side panel (20) and has a neck and a head (411). Theneck of the guiding pin (41) is mounted securely on the correspondingside edge of the front panel (40). The head (411) is larger than theneck, is formed on and protrudes from the neck of the guiding pin (41),is mounted in the guide channel (211) and is held in the guide channel(211) by the lip (212) of the corresponding guide channel (211).

The lock recesses (42) are formed respectively in the side edges of thefront panel (40) and in the front surface of the front panel (40). Eachlock recess (42) has a catch and two protrusions (421). The catch isformed through the corresponding front surface and the side edge of thefront panel (40) and has a top and a bottom. The protrusions (421) areformed respectively on the top and the bottom of the catch.

Each lock assembly (43) is mounted movably in the lock hole (221) of thecorresponding pivoting leaf (22), selectively engages the correspondinglock recess (42) and comprises a lock rod (431) and a spring (432). Thelock rod (431) is mounted movably in the lock hole (221) of thecorresponding pivot leaf (22), selectively engages the correspondinglock recess (42) and has an outer end, an inner end, an inner head (433)and an annular flange (434). The outer end of the lock rod (431) extendsout of the lock hole (221) of the corresponding pivot leaf (22). Theinner head (433) is formed on and protrudes from the inner end of thelock rod (431) and selectively abuts between the catch and theprotrusions (421) of the corresponding lock recess (42) to engage thelock rod (431) in the corresponding lock recess (42). The annular flange(434) is formed around the lock rod (431), selectively abuts thecorresponding side panel (20, 20′), is larger than the lock hole (221)of the corresponding pivot leaf (22) and prevents the lock rod (431)from leaving the lock hole (221) of the corresponding pivot leaf (22).The spring (432) is mounted around the lock rod (431) and is mountedbetween the annular flange (434) and the corresponding side edge of thefront panel (40) and forces the annular flange (434) away from thecorresponding pivot leaf (22).

With further reference to FIG. 9, the cover (50, 50′) is mountedpivotally and detachably on the top of the rear panel (10), isselectively locked on the top of the front panel (40) and may havemultiple transverse slots (51′). The transverse slots (51′) are formedseparately through the cover (50′) and are parallel to each other.

The handles (60) are mounted respectively on the front and rear panels(40, 10) and extend respectively out of the top of the front and rearpanels (40, 10).

The telescopic frame (70) is mounted on the rear panel (10).

The wheels (80) are respectively mounted rotatably on the sides of therear panel (10).

The at least one additional bag (90) is mounted detachably on the frontand side panels (40, 20) to provide increased capacity.

The person folds the foldable storage container as described forstorage. The cover (50) is detached from the rear panel (10) to bestored separately. The base (30) is pivoted up to be parallel to therear panel (10). The lock rods (431) are pressed deeper into the lockholes (221) to disengage the inner heads (433) from the lock recesses(42). Then the front panel (40) can slide from the front ends of theguide channels (222) to the rear ends of the guide channels (211) of theside panels (20, 20′). The pivot leaves (21) are folded in to beparallel to the rear panel (20). Therefore, the foldable storagecontainer as described is folded smaller to be stored conveniently.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the presentinvention have been set forth in the foregoing description, togetherwith details of the structure and features of the invention, thedisclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details,especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts withinthe principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by thebroad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims areexpressed.

1. A foldable storage container comprising: a rear panel having a top, abottom and two edges; two side panels respectively mountedperpendicularly on the sides of the rear panel and being foldable; abase mounted pivotally on the rear panel and having a pivoting edgemounted pivotally on the bottom of the rear panel; a front edge; and abottom surface; a front panel mounted slidably between the side panelsand having a top, a front surface and two side edges; and a covermounted pivotally and detachably on the top of the rear panel andselectively locked on the top of the front panel.
 2. The foldablestorage container as claimed in claim 1, wherein each side panelcomprises a top; a bottom; an inner surface; a stationary leaf beingformed perpendicularly on a corresponding side of the rear panel andhaving a rear edge formed on the corresponding side of the rear panel; astationary edge; and an inner surface; and a pivoting leaf mountedpivotally on the stationary edge of the stationary leaf and having apivoting edge mounted pivotally on the stationary edge of the stationaryleaf; a front edge; and a top.
 3. The foldable storage container asclaimed in claim 2, wherein each side panel further comprises multipleguide channels formed separately through the side panel near the top andthe bottom and each guide channel has a front end; a rear end; and anopening formed through the inner surface of the stationary leaf; and thefront panel has multiple guiding pins, and each guiding pin protrudesfrom the side edge of the front panel, is mounted slidably in one of theguide channels in a corresponding side panel and has a neck.
 4. Thefoldable storage container as claimed in claim 3, wherein each guidechannel has a lip formed around the opening of the guide channel; andeach guiding pin further a head being larger than, formed on andprotruding from the neck of the guiding pin and being mounted in acorresponding guide channel and being held by the lip in thecorresponding guide channel.
 5. The foldable storage container asclaimed in claim 2, wherein each pivoting leaf has a lock hole formedthrough the front edge of the pivoting leaf near the top; and the frontpanel has multiple lock recesses formed respectively in the side edgesof the front panel and in the front surface of the front panel, and eachlock recess having a catch being formed through the front surface and acorresponding one of the side edges of the front panel and having a topand a bottom; and two protrusions formed respectively on the top and thebottom of the catch; and multiple lock assemblies, and each lockassembly being mounted movably in the lock hole of a corresponding pivotleaf, selectively engaging a corresponding lock recess and comprising alock rod mounted movably in the lock hole of the corresponding pivotleaf, selectively engaging the corresponding lock recess and having anouter end extending out of the lock hole of the corresponding pivotleaf; an inner end; an inner head formed on and protruding from theinner end of the lock rod and selectively abutting between the catch andthe protrusions of the corresponding lock recess; and an annular flangeformed around the lock rod, selectively abutting a corresponding sidepanel and being larger than the lock hole of the corresponding pivotleaf; and a spring mounted around the lock rod and mounted between theannular flange and the corresponding side edge of the front panel. 6.The foldable storage container as claimed in claim 4, wherein eachpivoting leaf has a lock hole formed through the front edge of thepivoting leaf near the top; and the front panel has multiple lockrecesses formed respectively in the side edges of the front panel and inthe front surface of the front panel, and each lock recess having acatch being formed through the front surface and a corresponding one ofthe side edges of the front panel and having a top and a bottom; and twoprotrusions formed respectively on the top and the bottom of the catch;and multiple lock assemblies, and each lock assembly being mountedmovably in the lock hole of a corresponding pivot leaf, selectivelyengaging a corresponding lock recess and comprising a lock rod mountedmovably in the lock hole of the corresponding pivot leaf, selectivelyengaging the corresponding lock recess and having an outer end extendingout of the lock hole of the corresponding pivot leaf; an inner end; aninner head formed on and protruding from the inner end of the lock rodand selectively abutting between the catch and the protrusions of thecorresponding lock recess; and an annular flange formed around the lockrod, selectively abutting a corresponding side panel and being largerthan the lock hole of the corresponding pivot leaf; and a spring mountedaround the lock rod and mounted between the annular flange and thecorresponding side edge of the front panel.
 7. The foldable storagecontainer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base has multiple elongatedrollers mounted rotatably on the bottom surface of the base and beingparallel to each other.
 8. The foldable storage container as claimed inclaim 6, wherein the base has multiple elongated rollers mountedrotatably on the bottom surface of the base and being parallel to eachother.
 9. The foldable storage container as claimed in claim 7, whereineach side panel has multiple through holes formed separately through theside panel; the base has multiple transverse slots formed separatelythrough the base, and each longitudinal slot formed between twocorresponding elongated rollers; and the cover having multipletransverse slots formed separately through the cover and being parallelto each other.
 10. The foldable storage container as claimed in claim 8,wherein each side panel has multiple through holes formed separatelythrough the side panel; the base has multiple transverse slots formedseparately through the base, and each transverse slot formed between twocorresponding elongated rollers; and the cover having multipletransverse slots formed separately through the cover and being parallelto each other.
 11. The foldable storage container as claimed in claim 1further comprising two handles mounted respectively on the front andrear panels and extending respectively out of the top of the front andrear panels.
 12. The foldable storage container as claimed in claim 8further comprising two handles mounted respectively on the front andrear panels and extending respectively out of the top of the front andrear panels.
 13. The foldable storage container as claimed in claim 1,further comprising a telescopic frame mounted on the rear panel.
 14. Thefoldable storage container as claimed in claim 12, further comprising atelescopic frame mounted on the rear panel.
 15. The foldable storagecontainer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising two wheelsrespectively mounted rotatably on the sides of the rear panel.
 16. Thefoldable storage container as claimed in claim 14, further comprisingtwo wheels respectively mounted rotatably on the sides of the rearpanel.
 17. The foldable storage container as claimed in claim 1 furthercomprising at least one additional bag mounted detachably on the frontand side panels.
 18. The foldable storage container as claimed in claim10 further comprising two handles mounted respectively in the front andrear panels and extending respectively out of the top of the front andrear panels; a telescopic frame mounted on the rear panel; and twowheels respectively mounted rotatably on the sides of the rear panel.19. The foldable storage container as claimed in claim 18 furthercomprising at least one additional bag mounted detachably on the frontand side panels.
 20. The foldable storage container as claimed in claim9 further comprising an additional lid mounted pivotally on the rearpanel to cover the base and having a keyhole formed through theadditional lid; and a key protrusion formed on the rear panel andselectively engaging the keyhole.